Hybrid rose plant named ‘SPESALLE’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of hybrid rose plant named ‘SPESALLE’ characterized by an attractive red flower with sufficient stem length, disease resistance, and acceptable productivity for the production of commercial cut flowers. ‘SPESALLE’ is characterized by a large flower with deep colored, velvety textured red petals in a very regular spiral pattern. The center petals are at the same height with the petals farther away from the center of the flower tapering down from the relatively flat time. The foliage is a dark, glossy green with a shape similar the lemon leaves.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Rosa hybrid Hybrid Tea Rose.

Variety denomination: ‘SPESALLE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Hybrid Tea cultivar of Rose plant, botanically known as Rosa hybrid, hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘SPESALLE’.

The new Hybrid Tea Rose ‘SPESALLE’ is a product of a breeding program conducted by the inventor, Erik Spek, in Boskoop, The Netherlands. Asexual reproduction of the new hybrid rose ‘SPESALLE’ is generally performed by grafting, although it can be grown on its own roots. Propagation through patch budding has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true-to-type.

The new cultivar is produced from the cross of two unpatented, proprietary red seedlings, breeder code ‘245’ as the female parent and breeder code ‘301’ as the male parent.

Initial seed germination and asexual reproduction of the claimed variety ‘SPESALLE’ took place in Boskoop, The Netherlands, in a climate-controlled greenhouse. After the initial asexual reproduction, plants were selected and shipped to a test facility in Valle de los Chillos, Ecuador for further asexual reproduction and final selection under more typical commercial growing conditions near the equator.

As the variety is genetically stable, the genotype of ‘SPESALLE’ plants is identical when grown in The Netherlands or in Ecuador, however there is variation in the phenotype due to the difference in climactic conditions. Therefore, the final asexual reproduction and selection of ‘SPESALLE’ plants occurred in Valle de los Chillos, Ecuador, and commercial production of ‘SPESALLE’ plants occurs in Cayambe, Ecuador. Data presented in the current application is taken from plants produced under commercial growing conditions in Valle de los Chillos, Ecuador and Cayambe, Ecuador.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new hybrid rose ‘SPESALLE’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describes the color of ‘SPESALLE’.

As shown in the photographs, ‘SPESALLE’ is characterized by a large flower with deep colored, velvety textured red petals in a very regular spiral pattern. The center petals are at the same height with the petals farther away from the center of the flower tapering down from the relatively flat time. The foliage is a dark, glossy green with a shape similar the lemon leaves.

FIG. 1 shows a partially open flower ‘SPESALLE’ on the plant.

FIG. 2 shows upright growth habit of ‘SPESALLE.’

FIG. 3 shows the color and shape of young foliage growth on ‘SPESALLE’ plants in contrast with mature leaves on the ‘SPESALLE’ plants.

FIG. 4 shows the characteristics of the thorns and stem on the lower part of a stem on ‘SPESALLE’

FIG. 5 shows flowers of ‘SPESALLE’ at various opening stages while still on the plants.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants of the cultivar ‘SPESALLE’ have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity which can vary by season, without, however, any variance in genotype. The photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Valle de los Chillos, Ecuador and Cayambe, Pichincha, Ecuador, under commercial practice in a polyethylene plastic with UV filter covered greenhouse in a climate where the night temperature may drop as low as 2 C but typically reaches about 8 C at night and may rise to around to around 31 C but typically reaches about 21 C day temperatures. The observations are from plants about one year old that were propagated by patch budding on a ‘Natal Brier’ rose rootstock.

-   Botanical classification: Rosa hybrid Hybrid Tea Rose. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Rosa hybrida selection identified             as breeder code number ‘245’, a red seedling.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary Rosa hybrid selection identified as             breeder code number ‘301’, a red seedling. -   Color reference: All color descriptions are based on The Royal     Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart, 2^(nd) Edition, 1986,     published in association with the Flower Council of Holland     (PROVORN-ROSSUM). -   Comparison varieties: In comparison with the female parent,     proprietary seedling number ‘245’, ‘SPESALLE’ is larger, as the     flowers of ‘245’ are approximately 5 cm in the height of the head     versus up to 7.5 cm, longer, as cut flowers from the seedling     normally have 50 to 70 cm stem lengths while ‘SPESALLE’ can be much     longer. The inner petal color of ‘245’ is RHS Red Group 46 A which     is similar to ‘SPESALLE’. Both have a symmetrical shape with the     petals arranged in a spiral form. In comparison with the male     parent, proprietary seedling number ‘301’, the flower head of     ‘SPESALLE’ is approximately the same size but has a regular spiral     center, where the male parent ‘301’ has an irregular arrangement of     petals in the center. Additionally, the inner petal color of the     male parent ‘301’ is slightly lighter (RHS 45A) than the inner petal     color of ‘SPESALLE’ (RHS 46A). In comparison with the similar     variety ‘Tan97544’ (Patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,697) ‘SPESALLE’     has a larger flower head, does not have the dip in the center of the     flower head, is slightly darker in petal color (RHS Red Group 46 A     versus RHS Red Group 45 A) and has more petals. -   Propagation: Although the cultivar can be propagated from a rooted     cutting, it is recommended that it be budded on a suitable rootstock     such as Rosa hybrida var. ‘Manetti’ or ‘Natal Brier’ for greenhouse     production of roses. The grafting can be as a bud, t-graft stentling     or other type of graft. The rootstocks for budded plants should     generally be grown for several weeks if the grafting is in the     greenhouse for the plant to be actively growing to accept the bud.     -   -   Rooting habit.—Will depend upon the rootstock used. -   Plant:     -   -   General appearance.—The cultivar ‘SPESALLE’ is a tall,             upright, freely branching shrub that will produce both basal             breaks and branches from the pinched plants. Although             generally grown using a system with posts and wire or string             guides, the observed and typical plant growth habit does not             require any special treatment to insure a primarily vertical             growth habit.         -   Plant height, lateral branches, stems and internodes:             Typically, the plant will be managed with flower cutting             points between 30 cm and 150 cm. This can result in an             overall plant height over 2 meters depending upon plant             management. Lateral branches will generally be from 40 cm to             up to 150 cm. The normal diameter of the lower area can vary             from 0.6 cm to 1.0 cm, in the middle area from 0.6 cm to 0.8             cm, and peduncle diameter from 0.4 cm to 0.6 cm. A typical             plant produces 10-14 stems per year. Visual differences in             the diameter of stems on the same plant are common.             Internode length is generally from 3.0 to 8.0 cm and the             stem texture is smooth. The color of the branches approaches             RHS Green 137B. Internode length on the stem between leaves             is generally around 6 to 7 cm. Young shoots have a strong             intensity of anthocyanin coloration which disappears as the             stem matures.         -   Peduncle.—Peduncle is green similar to the rest of the stem             with a color approaching RHS Green 137B. Peduncle is             thornless and free of prickles. The typical length of the             peduncle is 6 to 10 cm before coming to at least the first             incomplete leaf.         -   Plant diameter.—The plant diameter will generally be managed             with a diameter up to 30 cm.         -   Thorns.—Reddish brown color, similar to RHS 165B from the             greyed orange group, up to about 35 or 40 cm from the base             of the flower. The thorns under normal growing conditions             are about 0.5 cm. long. Thorns are generally not present in             the upper 40 cm of the stem. Below that point, they are             spaced 3 cm to 4 cm apart. At the base the thorns have a             length of about 1.8 cm, width of 2 mm and height of 0.6 to             0.8 cm. The thorn shape is very pointed with the tip             pointing slightly down.         -   Seed/fruit.—None observed.         -   Petioles.—The petioles are 4 to 6 cm long, have a diameter             of 0.15 cm, a smooth texture, a upper surface color RHS             Green-White group 157A, and an under surface color similar             to Green Group 143A.         -   Stipules.—Stipules of ‘SPESALLE’ extend out from the base of             the petiole approximately two-thirds of the distance to the             first pair of leaflets, and at the end of the stipules the             stipules have two narrow, pointed, auricles with a total             width of approximately 1.5 cm while the stipules have a             total width of approximately 0.75 cm. There is only the one             single pair of stipules per petiole. The color of the             stipules is closest to RHS Green 135A.         -   Flower buds.—The bud shape of flowers at cut point is             generally relatively flat at the top with the two outer             petals forming rings at progressively lower levels. At a             typical cutting point, the flower bud is from 6.5 to 7.5 cm             high, 5 to 6 cm wide and has a color near RHS Red 41B.         -   Flowers.—The exact count may vary but the flowers typically             have about 33 to 36 petals. The first flowers produced on             the plant may have over 50 petals. A flower at cut point may             be up to 7.5 cm wide and 7.5 cm high. The inner side of the             petals is between RHS Red 41A and 46A and the outer side of             the petals and the petals showing at the top of closed             flowers near RHS Red 41B. Petal color may darken with age.             Slight blackening of petals may be observed depending upon             degree of protection against UV radiation during flower             production. Flowers do not generally open to the point where             the stamens and pistil are visible.         -   Fragrance.—The petals have no noticeable fragrance.         -   Petals.—The edge of the petals is rounded with a slight             extension to a rounded tip. The color description is             included in the description of the overall flower. The outer             petals often have pronounced whitish veins that fan out from             the center of the base of the petal. Inner petals have less             pronounced veins. Outer petals grown under the conditions of             Cayambe, Ecuador have a size of about 5 cm in diameter.             Inner petals are slightly larger and more oval with a width             of about 6 cm and a length of about 7 cm. The base of the             petals is almost rounded.         -   Sepals.—Sepals are narrow near the tip, approximately 4 cm             long under normal conditions, with two or three pairs of             larger serrations on each side along with some very small             serrations near the tip appearing in some sepals. Flowers             have five sepals and are 1.75 cm wide at the base and 2.0 cm             wide at the widest point. Other sepals may have relatively             smooth edges. Color of the sepals is near RHS Green 137A             although slight yellowing may appear at the base of the             sepals. The texture of the upper surface of the sepals is             slightly bristled, while the lower surface is not bristled             but the texture is slightly rough.         -   Receptacle.—The base of the receptacle is almost flat and             has a color similar to the stem color of RHS Green 137B. The             width from the anthers on one side of the flower to the             other is about 3 cm with the top of the stigma on top of the             pistil protruding nearly 1 cm above the highest point of the             stamen. This would be a significant hindrance to             self-pollination, which has not been reported under             commercial conditions. The receptacle at its widest point is             about 1.5 cm on an un-pollinated flower while the total             height is about 2 cm.         -   Foliage.—There are four different types of leaves on the             typical stem of ‘SPESALLE’. Complete leaves and leaflets are             large and strongly glossy. The lower leaves may have seven             leaflets, with an individual leaflet length of 4 to 9 cm and             individual leaflet width of 3 to 4 cm, an overall leaf             length of 18 to 22 cm and an overall width of approximately             15 cm, middle leaves generally have five leaflets with an             individual leaflet length of 8 to 14 cm and width of 17 to             18 cm, an overall leaf length of 18 to 25 cm, and an overall             width of 16 to 20 cm. Upper leaves generally have three             leaflets with individual leaflet length of 8 to 13.5 cm and             individual leaflet width of up to 7 cm in the center leaflet             and 4 cm in the side leaflets, and a total leaf length of 18             to 22 cm and total leaf width of 16 to 18 cm. Widths can be             affected by fertilization and environmental conditions. Just             below the peduncle it is common to have incomplete leaflets             with a length of 5 to 10 cm and a width of about 2 cm. The             incomplete leaflets may start at 25 cm from the base of the             receptacle. The upper side of leaves have a color between             RHS Green 136A and 143A and a lower side of the leaves close             to RHS Green 138 A, depending upon leaf age and             fertilization of the plant. The glossy foliage with odd             pinnate leaves, have ovate leaflets with a serrated edge and             a rounded leaf base. The terminal leaflet is acuminate in             shape at the tip with a rounded base. Leaf venation color is             not different than the leaf colors, other than the central             vein being a lighter green, similar to RHS Green 129D.         -   Flower longevity.—Normal vase life after transport is 10 to             12 days, although the flower will generally last several             days longer on the plant.         -   Disease and pest resistance.—Normal, with some             susceptibility to Botrytis cinerea.         -   Physiological disorders.—When grown under certain climatic             conditions or with an inadequate proportion of Calcium to             Potassium, slight bronzing may be observed in the color of             the petals.         -   Reproductive organs.—Filament: Number: 40 to 50 per stem;             Length: 1.5 to 2.5 cm; Diameter: Approx. 0.25 cm; Color: RHS             46A Red. Anther: Number: One per stem; Length: 4 mm; Width:             1.5 mm; Color: RHS 23C Yellow-Orange. Ovary: Number: One per             stem; Width: 3-4 cm; Height: 1-2 cm; Color: RHS 164C             Greyed-Orange; Shape: Pitcher-shaped in longitudinal             section. Style: Number: One per stem; Length: 1 to 1.5 cm;             Diameter: Approx. 0.25 cm; Stigma color: RHS 42B Red.

If the whole set of reproductive organs is allowed to dry on the plant, the color browns to between RHS165B and RHS165C, Greyed-Orange. ‘SPESALLE’ flowers have not been observed to self-pollinate, perhaps due to the pistil being higher than the stamen which would hinder transfer of pollen to the top of the stigma from the anthers. A rose hip would be produced if the flower were allowed to pollinate and the fruit were allowed to form. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant named ‘SPESALLE’, as herein illustrated and described by the characteristics set forth above. 